14 Best Turnkey Podcasting Software

Getting started on your own podcast definitely takes a few steps before getting it off the ground. There’s the initial set up cost, getting your content ready, and then you actually have to get the recording done. From start to finish, there are a few key software pieces that you need to make it a success. In the podcasting world, post-production is deemed a necessity and it’s definitely not something you can just forego. Since most new podcasters don’t have the time to sit down and learn how to do everything from scratch, there is a big need for software to help you get your podcast recorded, edited, and ready for launch.

With podcasting growing rapidly as a medium, a new generation of audio-recording tools and apps are appearing. Below a list of some turnkey podcasting software to get you started! (This list is in no particular order).

1. Zencastr

Zencastr makes it easy for podcasters to record their guests in studio quality directly from their web browser. Record your remote interviews in studio quality by simply sending a link and receiving a separate track per guest. Zencastr records each voice locally in pristine quality. Insert your intro, ad, or other audio live as you record. This saves you the time it takes to edit these in during postproduction. Zencastr allows you to generate a single mixed track with curated audio enhancements applied to turn your recording into a professional mix ready for publishing. Simply send a web link to your guests and they will automatically join you in a live VoIP connection. Press record and each participant’s audio is recorded directly from their local microphone without any VoIP compression, artifacts, or dropouts. Once the recording is complete, each solo track is uploaded to the Zencastr cloud as well as conveniently synced to the host’s preferred cloud drive (Dropbox or Google Drive).

2. Anchor

Anchor exists to serve podcasters as the easiest way to start a podcast. Ever. The software allows you to record a high-quality podcast, host unlimited episodes, and distribute everywhere with just one click, all 100% free. Anchor removes all of the difficulty of getting a high-quality podcast made and distributed everywhere that people listen to audio. Anchor also makes episode management painless and allows you to rearrange segments in your episodes, and build episodes from new or previous content. Anchor also gives every user a beautiful landing page for their podcast on the web so you can send people right to a custom URL built specifically for your podcast. In addition to being the easiest way to actually make your podcast, Anchor also lets you seamlessly distribute episodes across top podcasting apps with one simple tap of a button, including iTunes, Google Play, Overcast, Stitcher, and more.

3. Auphonic

Auphonic is one of the many services used by podcasters for audio post-production. It is a paid web-based service that offers automatic audio post production web service for podcasts, broadcasters, radio shows, movies, screencasts and more. Auphonic develops next-generation audio algorithms using a combination of music information retrieval, machine learning, signal processing and big data to create automatic audio post-production software for broadcasters, podcasts, radio shows, movies, audio books, lecture recordings, screencasts and more. Auphonic is free for 2 hours of audio per month. The Auphonic API allows you to integrate their services into your scripts, workflows and third-party applications. It automatically levels, tails, and tops your audio. Auphonic also does basic cleanup on your files.

4. Cleenfeed

Cleanfeed is an online service that uses the Opus audio códec and the Chrome browser to allow for ISDN quality with one or multiple co-hosts and interviews. Cleanfeed is currently free to start, even for commercial use. Cleanfeed can record our sessions and deliver two separate tracks on a single WAV file. Cleanfeed enables anyone to send, receive and record live audio using only a browser. Record live with anyone in the world. Whether it’s interviewing or co-presenting, do it live. No need to synchronize recordings later. Get started without external mixers, mix-minuses and other technical know-how. The minimum requirements are just a browser and a microphone, and Cleanfeed handles the rest!

5. Ableton Live

Ableton was founded in 1999 and released the first version of Live in 2001. Their products are used by a community of dedicated musicians, sound designers, and artists from across the world. Ableton Live is a fast, fluid and flexible software for music creation and performance. It comes with effects, instruments, sounds and all kinds of creative features—everything you need to make any kind of music, including podcasts! Create in a traditional linear arrangement, or improvise without the constraints of a timeline in Live’s Session View. Move freely between musical elements and play with ideas, without stopping the music and without breaking your flow. Ableton gives you the total freedom to manipulate your voice in every single way, enhance it and make it sound better by compressing it and other effects that you can use in Ableton Live.

6. Logic Pro X

Logic Pro X is Apple’s flagship recording studio software that offers an extensive sound library, a good mix of plug-ins and a high level of product support. Logic Pro is an affordable digital audio workstation that comes with the same features and sounds as more expensive models. For podcasters who have been using Garageband, Logic Pro will feel familiar. However, if you’re new to Apple products, Logic Pro comes with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface so you can start working on your podcast recording right away. Based on the level of support, its extensive sound library and low price, Logic Pro X earns a top spot for best overall value.

7. Audacity

Audacity is a free open source digital audio editor and recording computer software application, available for Windows, macOS/OS X, Linux and other operating systems. There are two reasons Audacity is used by so many podcasters: it works, it’s free, and it also has great cross-platform support. Audacity is a simple program that can record live audio and comes with a basic set of effects that you can try out on your recordings, though it’s often compared to similar software that runs hundreds of dollars. This program processes audio and can turn out a professional sounding podcast with intros and music beds. In addition to recording audio from multiple sources, Audacity can be used for post-processing of all types of audio, including podcasts, by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out.

8. GarageBand

GarageBand is a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac — with a complete sound library. With Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro and an intuitive modern design, it’s easy to learn, play, record, create and share your podcast worldwide. Its music and podcast creation system enables users to create multiple tracks with pre-made MIDI keyboards, pre-made loops, an array of various instrumental effects, and voice recordings. The software has tons of helpful recording and editing features that make GarageBand as powerful as it is easy to use. Edit your podcast right down to the note and decibel. Finesse your sound with audio effect plug‑ins. And finish your track like a pro, with effects such as compression and visual EQ.

9. FL Studio 12

FL Studio 12 is a complete software music production environment or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Representing more than 18 years of innovative developments it has everything you need in one package to create, record, edit, mix and master a professional quality podcast. FL Studio is now one of the world’s most popular DAWs and is used by the most creative artists. FL Studio comes in three editions: Signature, Producer, and Fruity. The editions share common features, but Signature and Producer have additional features, Instruments, Packs, and Effects. The All Plugins Bundle is the Signature edition plus All plugins included.

10. Audio Hijack & Fission

With Audio Hijack, you can record any application’s audio, including VoIP calls from Skype, web streams from Safari, and much more. Save audio from hardware devices like microphones and mixers as well. You can even record all the audio heard on your Mac at once! If you can hear it, Audio Hijack can record it.

With Fission, audio editing is no longer a chore. You can join files, crop and trim audio, and rapidly split up long files. Fission is streamlined for fast editing, and it works without the quality loss other audio editors cause. If you need to convert between audio formats, Fission can do that too. Rapidly export or batch convert files to the MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV formats. Fission has all your audio needs covered.

11. TwistedWave

TwistedWave for Mac a very powerful and yet very easy to use audio editor. With TwistedWave on your iPad or iPhone, you can record and edit anything, anywhere. This is just like a portable home studio. Run TwistedWave without having to download or install anything. Launch it directly from your web browser, and continue editing your files where you left them. TwistedWave offers an API that allows third-party developers to integrate an audio editor in their website.

12. Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is a digital audio workstation from Adobe Systems featuring both a multitrack, non-destructive mix/edit environment and a destructive-approach waveform editing view. Adobe makes some of the best and most popular software programs and Adobe Audition is used to create and mix sound – so it’s perfect for podcasting! Adobe Audition is tightly related to Adobe Premiere, so if you plan to do video podcasting, the two will work great together. The software also supports thousands of royalty-free music loops that can be used to compile songs and soundtracks.

13. Pro Tools

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation developed and released by Avid Technology for Microsoft Windows and macOS, which can be used for a wide range of sound recording and sound production purposes. Pro Tools is for established podcasters who are looking to expand to a more in-depth software. Pro Tools only runs on specific Pro Tools rated hardware. It is a high-end product with loads of features and power, but not essential for the first time podcaster. Along with a ton of great features comes a bigger learning curve, which is definitely the case with Pro Tools. However, if you have professional recording experience or just need to have the “best of the best,” Pro Tools might just be the right solution for you and your podcast.

14. Sony ACID Xpress

Sony ACID Xpress is a free, limited version of MAGIX’s ACID Music Studio software. It can record and edit audio and emulates the looping capability of GarageBand in a free software for Windows. ACID loops are royalty free music that can be stretched to fit different tempos and keys. ACID XPress comes with a few trial loops, but you will either have to buy a library CD or download free loops from the internet if you want to use its soundtrack capabilities. Work can be done in XPress, however, most people who like the ACID workspace will opt to move up to ACID Music Studio. Xpress is simple to learn, so you can quickly get up and running to get your podcast recorded, edited, and launched!